State Government of Victoria

Environment Protection Authority

Programs and initiatives

Early sunsetting of EREP program


The Victorian Government has advised EPA that it will begin to sunset the mandatory Environment and Resource Efficiency Plans (EREP) program from February 2013. The Regulations concerned were originally due to sunset on 31 December 2014.

This decision follows a review that finds that EREP could place unnecessary compliance burden on businesses due to duplication with current Commonwealth programs, including the Energy Efficiency Opportunities program and the carbon price.

Victorian EREP businesses can still continue to implement their EREP and proceed voluntarily with identifying and implementing efficiency improvements in their energy or water use, for example.

EPA will continue to make available information from the program that assisted businesses to make informed decisions about resource efficiency.

FAQs about early sunsetting of EREP program + Expand all Collapse all

  • Why is EREP sunsetting early?

    The EREP program was due to finish at the end of 2014, but the Victorian Government has brought forward the sunset of this program because the carbon price and other federal programs are now in place to encourage emissions reduction at a national level.

    Late last year the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed that States and Territories would review programs that had possible duplication with any federal and carbon price incentives. The EREP program was part of this review.
  • Can I still access the resource efficiency business tools and support from EPA?

    Information from the program that assisted businesses to make informed decisions about resource efficiency will continue to be made available on EPA’s website.
  • Can I still access the online system

    EREP businesses are encouraged to download any information they require from the online system as soon as possible, because the online system will cease to be accessible at a future date.
  • What other government programs are available to assist business to improve their efficiency?

    The Victorian Government will continue to provide advice to businesses through Sustainability Victoria and provide funding to medium-sized businesses through the $10 Million Smarter Resources Smarter Business program, delivered by Sustainability Victoria.

    Other Victorian Government programs that can provide assistance to meet varying business needs include:

    • Business Victoria’s Investing in Manufacturing Technology Grant, Big Help for Small Businesses and Smart SMEs Market Validation Program;
    • the Energy Saver Incentive
    • the Office of Living Victoria’s Living Victoria Water Rebate Program.

    For more information on these programs visit Sustainability Victoria at www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/srsb
  • Should I still keep doing the work voluntarily?

    While the mandatory requirement for participation in EREP will be removed, businesses can still continue voluntarily with identifying and implementing energy or water use efficiency improvements should they choose to. Investments in resource efficiency improvements can help business to save money into the future.

Page last updated on 19 Feb 2013